The broad pedestrian study came after officials last year reported that all categories for fatal and disabling injuries declined except for pedestrian accidents. The average number of those increased more than 13 percent for the period from 2006 to 2010.

The new pedestrian study found they happen most in busy urban areas during the day. The main cause is distraction either on the part of the driver, the pedestrian or both, Lachky said.

People use cell phones, read books, listen to music and more, he said, and bad things happen.

More education would help, he said, and he showed public awareness posters other cities put at places like bus stops.

One features a man with tire marks on his face. Another shows a man’s shoes with the caption, “LOOK OUT BEFORE YOU STEP OUT.”

Pedestrians have some blame. Many ignore the lights on 39th street. My number one pet peeve is people ignoring traffic rules. I don’t experience much tailgating but I don’t go very far from home, either. The worst is State Line going north to SW Blvd. I just pull over and let them pass.

Drivers don’t seem to remember or care — it is THE LAW to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk. This is a problem particularly in the Plaza area. It forces peds to cross at random places in the street, when they can because traffic is stopped. I’d love to see some drivers busted for not yielding to pedestrians in the crosswalk.